CLIENT | Design Inc

LOCATION | Ultimo / Pyrmont, Sydney

The inner-Sydney school will increase its capacity from 285 students to 800 students within this high-density location.

Its learning areas are flexible to be transformed into playgrounds, verandahs and walkways with a strong focus on natural landscapes. Gardens and water features are key elements in nurturing the well-being of children and enhancing their active lifestyle.

The building and terrace’s sturdy structure, plus its position on the sloping terrain will aid in reducing noise from the nearby traffic and busy street.

The sustainability vision for Ultimo Primary School is to create a natural, healthy and enchanting educational environment in an inner city setting.

The building forms are designed such that the major glazing are well shaded, allowing for natural diffused daylight whilst minimising unwanted solar heat gains. Large operable windows/doors are provided to all learning areas to increase natural ventilation potential.

The building has also been designed to induce the stack effect to further encourage airflows from the outdoors through different areas and levels of the building via pressure differences. JHA carried out in-depth thermal comfort and natural ventilation modelling to inform the iterative development process from concept through to detailed design.